SA’s first 24-hour pharmacy opens in Norwood

South Australia’s first 24/7 pharmacy opens its doors today, providing round-the-clock access to medicines and health advice and relieving pressure on busy emergency departments.

National Pharmacies in Norwood is now open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

It’s the first of three community pharmacies being supported by the Malinauskas Labor Government to extend operating hours around the clock, every day of the year.

The other two – Chemist Warehouse at the Saints Shopping Centre in Salisbury Plain and Chemist Warehouse at Clovelly Park – will begin operating 24/7 in coming weeks.

The three 24/7 pharmacies were selected through a competitive tender process and are located in northern, southern, and central Adelaide to provide the broadest access.

The State Government has invested $2.5 million a year to fund the initiative which will help to reduce avoidable presentations to busy hospital emergency departments. 

Until now, emergency departments and the Urgent Mental Health Care Centre have been the only walk-in health services open around the clock.

A pharmacist will be on staff 24 hours a day at each of the three pharmacies to provide specialist health advice, dispense medicines and provide professional pharmacy services.

The three pharmacies will also have added security including on-site security guards overnight.

In another important pharmacy expansion, from next month, South Australian women aged 18-65 with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) will be able to access antibiotic treatment through participating pharmacies. 

From May, eligible women will also be able to visit a local pharmacy to access a resupply of their oral contraceptive pill, without needing a doctor’s appointment.

Community pharmacies in South Australia will need to do additional training, being offered from this month, to offer the UTI services which are modelled on those already operating in other states.

For more information, go to www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/communitypharmacy

Quotes attributable to Peter Malinauskas

This is a game-changer for South Australian families and will also relieve pressure on our busy hospitals.

If someone gets sick in the middle of the night and needs quick access to medicine or health advice, they can now go to a 24-hour pharmacy instead of the ED.

Our first 24/7 pharmacy will offer huge convenience for people in Norwood and central Adelaide – with two other round-the-clock pharmacies soon to follow for South Australians in the northern and southern suburbs.

This investment is just one part of our transformational suite of policies to improve our healthcare system – including more ambos, doctors, nurses, ambulances and from this year, more hospital beds.

Unlike our opponents, we have a clear, detailed, funded plan for health that we are delivering upon – which is already delivering significant benefits for families.

Quotes attributable to Chris Picton

Introducing 24/7 pharmacies to our state will provide flexibility and peace of mind for South Australians when they get sick at any time of day or night and need medicine and care.

National Pharmacies in Norwood is just the first of three round-the-clock pharmacies for SA – with two more soon to come, in the north and south of Adelaide.

Until now, emergency departments and the Urgent Mental Health Care Centre have been the only walk-in health services open around the clock.

The added introduction of improved access to UTI treatment and a resupply of the Pill will also provide a major boost to women’s healthcare, putting patients first and providing faster access to support, while helping to ease pressure on hospital emergency departments and wait times to see a GP.

Quotes attributable to Labor candidate for Dunstan Cressida O’Hanlon

I’m so pleased for Eastern suburbs people and families that we will now have access to 24/7 health advice.

I think many people will have experienced becoming unwell after hours and feeling like the only option was waiting it out until morning or going to an Emergency Department and waiting to see a doctor.

I myself have had times when once of my children has come down with a temperature only to realise there’s only half a dose of paracetamol left in the bottle.

Now we will all have peace of mind knowing we have this health resource close to home.

Quotes attributable to National Pharmacies CEO Vito Borrello

National Pharmacies acknowledges the support of the State Government in the operation of our Norwood store as the first of three 24-7 pharmacies in Adelaide to open round-the-clock from today.

Our professional team of pharmacists are now available 24-7 to provide  health advice and dispense time-critical medications, including pain relief for sick children and antivirals for COVID and Shingles, allowing for rapid treatment and recovery of illnesses that require prompt management.

The National Pharmacies Norwood 24-7 store is leading the way in providing Adelaide families and individuals an immediate gateway to manage personal health and wellbeing every hour of every day, while also benefitting the wider health network.